Let's
look at Yorba Linda's best and less-than-best for 2015:
Best
City Council decision: Adopting fiscal year budgets with a projected
$1.2 million surplus by June 30, 2016, and another $360,000 by June
30, 2017, even with transfer of $2.4 million each year to subsidize
deficits in some landscape zones.
Next-best
council decision: Moving ahead with property owner elections in some
deficit landscape zones to raise fees to a level so the “special
benefit” zones are self-sufficient.
Most
severe payback: After last year vacating 26 commission and committee
positions, the council this year reappointed some members, dumped
opposition voices and fixed terms to expire after elections, setting
precedent for future councils to also conduct critic-cleansings.
Best-organized
grassroots citizens group: Protect Our Homes and Hills is training
residents to gather petition signatures to overturn expected council
approval of a pact with Esperanza Hills developer – wisely
continuing resistance to a 340-home project largely without
name-calling.
Best
record-breaking trend: Another big increase in Advanced Placement
exams given in Placentia-Yorba Linda high schools, with an 86 percent
pass rate for 3,647 tests and a 97 percent pass rate for 348
International Baccalaureate exams at Valencia High School.
Most
noteworthy break with history: Town Center developer seeks an upscale
movie theater and outdoor dining area with alcoholic beverage service
in a community where a lone liquor license was once held to prevent
the sale of such spirits.
Least
surprising occurrence: In a long city tradition for controversial
issues, large doses of name-calling and demeaning opponents' motives
have been spooned-out by both sides in Yorba Linda Water District's
$25 monthly “basic service charge” increase for most users.
Saddest
factors in name-calling campaigns: Voter turnout is low – 26
percent in June 2014, 49 percent in November 2014 – and fewer
quality candidates seek elected positions, results favored by
hardcore name-callers.
Most
significant Grand Jury study: A report from the county panel focused
attention on this city's unfunded retiree health care obligation,
which ranks 12th at $18.7 million and eighth in unfunded
liability per resident at $292 in a county range of $1 to $694.
Longest
wait for savings: $1,095 monthly deferred compensation for Gene
Hernandez, Mark Schwing and Craig Young ends December 2016 under
2014's reform Measure JJ; PERS pension contributions for Tom Lindsey,
Schwing and Young will run through their final terms.
Most
delayed action: No decisions this year on how the city will use the
Bastanchury Road property once leased for a Christian high school and
the historic Trueblood/Janeway home.
Best
economic news: The city's two main sources of revenue were projected
to increase in two fiscal years, with a total 9.2 percent for
property taxes and 10.4 percent for sales taxes.